Risk Factors For Pressure Ulcers Research Articles

A Prospective Cohort Study of Lower-Extremity Pressure Ulcer Risk Among Bedfast Older Adults

To estimate the incidence and identify risk factors for lower-extremity pressure ulcers in bedfast older adult patients. Prospective cohort study. A 500-bed long-term-care facility in Japan. A total of 259 patients who were aged 65 years or older, confined to bed, and without lower-extremity pressure ulcers at enrollment participated in the study. Incidence of occurrence, wound characteristics, and risk factors for lower-extremity pressure ulcers. The incidence of lower-extremity pressure ulcers per 100 person-years was 16.8 (n = 33). The most common sites of lesions were the toes and heels. Cox regression analysis indicated that 3 factors were independently related to new lower-extremity pressure ulcer risk: low ankle-brachial index value (hazards ratio 0.075; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.023-0.242), length of bedfast period (hazards ratio 1.010; 95% CI, 1.004-1.015), and male gender (hazards ratio 2.951; 95% CI, 1.450-6.009). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed the area under the curve was 0.760 (95% CI, 0.675-0.844) for the ankle-brachial index. Therefore, an ankle-brachial index cutoff level of 0.8 provided high sensitivity and adequate specificity. Lower-extremity pressure ulcers are a significant problem in bedfast older adult patients aged 65 years or older. Bedfast older adult patients who developed lower-extremity pressure ulcers in this study were believed to have arteriosclerosis; the patients' ulcers exhibited features of ischemic ulcers. The findings of the present study suggest that bedfast older adult patients with a low ankle-brachial index value, a long bedfast period, or male gender should be closely monitored for lower-extremity pressure ulcer development on admission to long-term-care facilities. In particular, the ankle-brachial index is recommended as a screening tool in this practice setting.

The NATVNS Scotland 2006 annual general meeting

To evaluate the predictive power of risk factors for pressure ulcers in adult intensive care patients.A retrospective case-control study was performed utilising a heterogeneous sample group allocated into a case group with pressure ulcers (n = 90) and a control group without pressure ulcers (n = 90). The analysis explored the predictive power of risk factors for pressure ulcers using a hierarchical logistic regression model.The risk factors that predicted pressure ulcers were friction (OR = 5.97), previous history of pressure ulcers (OR = 5.43), prolonged intensive care unit stay (OR = 3.92), dehydration (OR = 3.18), elevated skin temperature by 1–2 °C (OR = 3.12) and treatment of other comorbidities (OR = 2.79).Adult intensive care patients have an increased risk of developing a pressure ulcer. These risk factors are regarded as strong predictors for pressure ulceration. This study advances nursing knowledge in that it investigates additional risk factors for the development of pressure ulcers and it identifies a set of factors that best predict their occurrence, which may contribute to the nurses' diagnostic reasoning in the intensive care unit.

Assessing Risk and Preventing Pressure Ulcers in Patients With Cancer

To identify risk factors for pressure ulcers that may place the patient with cancer at higher risk. The role of nursing to provide pressure ulcer preventive measures will be discussed. Current research and published literature Research suggests that comprehensive prevention programs are effective in reducing pressure ulcer incidence rates and can be cost-effective. Comprehensive pressure ulcer prevention guidelines include risk assessment, skin care, offloading, and nutrition. Immobility places patients with cancer at greater risk. Nurses are at the forefront of predicting patients at risk for pressure ulcers and working with the multidisciplinary team to implement a pressure ulcer preventive program. There remains a dearth of research related to pressure ulcers and cancer. Research in this area is strongly suggested.

Predictive factors for pressure ulcers in the ambulatory stage of spinal cord injury patients

Case control study. To determine the main risk factors for pressure ulcer (PU) in ambulatory spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. Hospital del Trabajador, Santiago, (ACHS (Chilean Security Association), Chile. We studied 41 patients for traumatic SCI, from Santiago, Chile, cared for in our hospital. The clinical histories were reviewed from first discharge to 1996. The patients were categorized into two groups: 18 cases with a previous history of PU, and 23 patients with no history of PU were considered as controls. Univariate analysis was performed, 18 variables per case, 10 of which were psychosocial factors. There were 37 men and four women. Average age was 41.7 years. Duration of SCI on average was 6.7 years. The distribution was complete paraplegia (CPP) 22 patients (54%), complete tetraplegia three patients (7%), incomplete paraplegia 11 patients (27%) and incomplete tetraplegia, five patients (12%). Four variables of the univariate analysis were significant: duration of cord injury (SCI time) >5 years, completeness of cord injury, paraplegia and not able to practice regular standing. There was a significant association in body morphology (endo or ectomorphic), being able to practice regular standing and personality disorder in CPP. The risk for developing PU was 4.3 times greater in CPP patients than is any other type of SCI. CPP patients who do not practice standing periodically, who have a personality disorder and have an ecto/endomorphic corporal morphology have a greater risk of suffering PU.

Pressure ulcer risk factors; infections in foot and ankle surgery; skin prep techniques; wound infection predictors

Pressure ulcer risk factors; infections in foot and ankle surgery; skin prep techniques; wound infection predictors

Pressure ulcer risk factors in cardiac surgery: A review of the research literature

Pressure ulcer incidence in patients undergoing cardiac surgery is reported to be up to 29.5%. Common known risk factors for pressure ulcer development include compressive and shearing forces. However, knowledge about the specific risk factors in a defined population is helpful in the development of an effective prevention management. This literature review is part of a quality improvement project to reduce pressure ulcer incidence in the cardiac surgery population. The objective is to determine "which specific risk factors for pressure ulcer development in the cardiac surgery population are identified in the literature." The results of this literature review indicate a high-risk potential in the tissue tolerance for oxygen as temperature manipulation, vasoactive drugs, hypotensive periods, and reduced hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Time on the operating room table, frequency of repositioning, immobility time, older age, low albumin level, and corticosteroid are also found as significant risk factors in this population. Diseases that influence oxygen supply in older patients in combination with the special demands of temperature and circulation regulation during the cardiac surgical procedure place the patient at risk for pressure ulcer development. Prevention measures should be aimed at supporting tissue tolerance for pressure and tissue tolerance for oxygen. These measures should be additional to pressure-relieving devices on the operating room table and, postoperatively in bed, a defined minimum frequency of postoperative turning and early mobilization after the surgical procedure should be considered.

Pressure ulcer risk factors in patients undergoing surgery

This paper reports a study to identify risk factors associated with pressure ulcer development among a mixed group of adult patients undergoing surgery. Few studies have been carried out with patients undergoing surgery to assess the risk of pressure ulcer development, and so there is a little knowledge of the risk factors for this group. However, studies among non-surgical patients have shown that nutritional predictors such as low serum albumin level and low body mass index (BMI) are of great importance. An additional predictive factor may be low blood pressure. It is important to study these predictors further among patients undergoing surgery, using techniques such as multiple regression techniques, designed to identify the most important predictors for pressure ulcer development. A prospective comparative study was carried out in 1996-1998 with 286 adult patients undergoing surgical treatment. The data were collected from patient records by Registered Nurses preoperatively, for seven days postoperatively and thereafter once a week for up to 12 weeks. Perioperative data were also collected. The Risk Assessment Pressure Sore Scale was used, and data were collected on general physical condition, activity, mobility, moisture, food intake, fluid intake, sensory perception, friction and shear, body temperature and serum albumin. Forty-one (14.3%) patients developed pressure ulcers during the observation period. The most common type was non-blanchable erythema. Those who developed pressure ulcers were significantly older, weighed less, and had a lower BMI and serum albumin. More women than men developed pressure ulcers. Risk factors identified in multiple stepwise regression analyses were female gender, American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) status or New York Heart Association (NYHA) status and food-intake. Special attention, with regard to risk of pressure ulcer development, should be paid to patients undergoing surgery who have low ASA or NYHA scores, low food intake and/or are women.

Incidence and risk factors associated with pressure ulcers among patients with HIV infection.

To assess the incidence of and risk factors for pressure ulcers among patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Multicenter trial that included 1258 consecutive patients infected with HIV-1 who had 1815 admissions to 16 acute care infectious disease units in Italy. Data were collected for demographic, clinical, immunologic, and virologic parameters. The chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables, and the Student t test was used for continuous variables. Univariate analysis was performed to examine possible risk factors for pressure ulcers by computing odds ratios; a multiple logistic regression model was used to obtain adjusted estimates of odds ratios while accounting for all possible risk factors. The incidence of pressure ulcers was 2.31 per 100 admissions, 3.33 per 100 patients, and 1.06 per 1000 patient days. All stages of pressure ulcers were represented in the sample: 7 Stage I (15.9%), 24 Stage II (54.5%), 8 Stage III (18.2%), and 5 Stage IV (11.4%). Multivariate analyses showed that being female, length of hospitalization, and clinical markers of HIV infection were independently associated with pressure ulcers. Mortality rates were 50% among patients with pressure ulcers and 7.2% among patients without pressure ulcers (P <.0001), with an attributable mortality rate of 42.8% and an odds ratio of 12.96 (95% confidence interval 6.99-24.22). A higher incidence of pressure ulcers was found in patients infected with HIV-1 when compared with noninfected patients. Because a longer hospitalization may increase the risk of developing a pressure ulcer, practitioners should be aware of the clinical conditions that may prolong a patient's hospital stay. Aggressive preventive strategies should be implemented to decrease the complications associated with pressure ulcers among patients infected with HIV-1.

116 Risk Factors for Pressure Ulcers in Elderly Hospital Patients

Elderly hospital patients have ample exposure to situations and procedures that may increase their pressure ulcer risk. The aims of this study were to estimate the incidence of hospital‐acquired pressure ulcers in elderly medical patients and to determine whether the risk of pressure ulcers is associated with longer emergency department (ED) stays, lengthy procedures in the ED, or use of immobilizing restraints, medications, or devices in the ED. The study cohort was made up of 3,233 patients aged 65 or over admitted through the EDs of two Philadelphia hospitals. Sixty‐five percent of subjects were aged 80 or more, 61% were female, and 69% were Black. The incidence of hospital‐acquired pressure ulcers on Day 3 of the hospital stay, as ascertained by direct skin examination, was 6.2%. There were 266 hospital‐acquired pressure ulcers among 201 patients (mean per patient 1.3 pressure ulcers) 27% of the pressure ulcers were stage 1, 54% were stage 2, and the remainder were stages 3 or 4 or could not be staged. The median length of stay in the ED was 6.6 hours. The association between hospital‐acquired pressure ulcers and extrinsic risk factors will be presented. The identification of potentially modifiable risk factors may lead to the development of effective interventions to prevent hospital‐acquired pressure ulcers.

Pressure ulcer risk in hip fracture patients.

Hip fracture patients have a high risk of pressure ulcers (PU). We followed 121 hip fracture patients for the development of pressure ulcers and evaluated a risk assessment tool for sensitivity and specificity. More than half of the patients presented with PU, mostly stage I. Risk factors for PU were high age and the length of time on the operating table. The risk assessment tool had a low predictive value, however. It is thus hard to predict which patients will develop PU and which will not. Accordingly, we propose maximum preventive measures against PU for all patients presenting with hip fractures.

Nontraumatic spinal cord injury rehabilitation: pressure ulcer patterns, prediction, and impact

New PW, Rawicki HB, Bailey MJ. Nontraumatic spinal cord injury rehabilitation: pressure ulcer patterns, prediction, and impact. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004;85:87–93. Objective To investigate the characteristics, predictors, and consequences of pressure ulcers in patients with nontraumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Design Retrospective, 3-year, case series. Setting Tertiary medical unit specializing in SCI rehabilitation. Participants Consecutive sample of 134 adult inpatient referrals with nontraumatic SCI. Patients requiring initial rehabilitation or readmission were included. Intervention Chart review. Main outcome measures Primary outcome measures were presence of pressure ulcers on admission to rehabilitation, incidence of new pressure ulcers developing during hospitalization, and any complications attributable to pressure ulcers during inpatient rehabilitation. Secondary objectives were to examine the predictability of risk factors for pressure ulcers, to assess the usefulness of a model previously developed for predicting pressure ulcers in patients with chronic SCI, and to estimate the effect of pressure ulcers on rehabilitation of nontraumatic SCI. Results Prevalence of pressure ulcers among admissions was 31.3% (n=42). Only 2.2% (n=3) of patients developed a new pressure ulcer after admission. The length of stay (LOS) of patients admitted with a pressure ulcer was significantly longer than that of those without a pressure ulcer (geometric mean, 62.3d for pressure ulcer vs 28.2d for no pressure ulcer, P=.0001). Many previously identified risk factors for pressure ulcers in SCI patients did not apply to our nontraumatic SCI patients. It is estimated that the inpatient LOS for those patients with a significant pressure ulcer was increased by 42 days. Conclusions Pressure ulcers are a common complication for people with nontraumatic SCI who are admitted for rehabilitation, and they have a significant impact on LOS.

Pressure ulcers and the transition to long-term care.

To estimate the prevalence of pressure ulcers among newly admitted residents of long-term-care facilities and to determine whether patients admitted from hospitals had a higher prevalence than those admitted from home or other settings. Prospective cohort study conducted between 1992 and 1995. 59 long-term-care facilities in Maryland. 2015 residents aged 65 years and older newly admitted to participating long-term-care facilities. Stage II, III, or IV pressure ulcer, first mentioned in the long-term-care facility's chart within 2 days of admission. Of the 2015 residents studied, 208 (10.3%) had 1 or more pressure ulcers on admission to a long-term-care facility. The proportion of patients with 1 or more pressure ulcers was 11.9% among those admitted from a hospital and 4.7% among those not admitted from a hospital (P<.001). In multivariable analysis, admission from a hospital was significantly associated with pressure ulcer prevalence on admission (odds ratio, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-3.7). A lower prevalence of pressure ulcers on admission was significantly associated with being white; a higher prevalence was associated with being chairbound or bedridden, being underweight, and having fecal incontinence. Admission to a long-term-care facility from a hospital is an important marker for higher pressure ulcer risk. The identification of pressure ulcer risk factors is essential to the implementation of prevention activities, ensuring that appropriate interventions are targeted to the residents who are most likely to benefit.

Low Serum Albumin Levels, Confusion, and Fecal Incontinence: Are These Risk Factors for Pressure Ulcers in Mobility-Impaired Hospitalized Adults?

Background: Studies of risk factors for clinically significant pressure ulcers in the hospital have been limited by the small number of study subjects that develop pressure ulcers, resulting in contradictory findings regarding some risk factors. Objective: To determine if three risk factors (low serum albumin level, fecal incontinence, and confusion) were significant risk factors when tested in a large data set. Methods: The study design was a longitudinal cohort study using data collected as a component of a multi-site controlled clinical trial. The data were collected at 47 Veterans Affairs Hospitals. 2,771 subjects that required high levels of nursing care were identified to have mobility impairment. Their medical records were abstracted using a standard form to identify a large number of potential risk factors. The subsequent development of stage 2 or greater pressure ulcers was recorded for a maximum of 14 days after admission. Results: 406 patients (14.7%) subsequently developed at least one stage 2 or greater pressure ulcer over a 2-week period. In a multivariate model, the presence of low albumin levels (odds ratio OR = 1.40) and confusion (OR = 1.45) were both found to be statistically significant risk factors, while fecal incontinence was not. Having a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order was also a significant risk factor (OR = 1.55). Two other known risk factors also entered the model: being malnourished (OR = 1.69) and requiring a urinary catheter (OR = 1.55). Conclusions: This study confirmed confusion and low albumin as pressure ulcer risk factors, but not fecal incontinence. A DNR order was found to be a new pressure ulcer risk factor not previously described in the literature.

Medical conditions as risk factors for pressure ulcers in an outpatient setting.

the purpose of this study was to evaluate the likelihood that the presence of certain medical conditions in older ambulatory patients are associated with the risk of developing a new pressure ulcer. a cohort study. a large outpatient record database from the United Kingdom called the General Practice Research Database. the frequency of disease was reported as simple percentages and the associations between the medical conditions and the development of a pressure ulcer as instantaneous rate ratios. we studied 75,168 older individuals. Pressure ulcers occurred in 1,211 individuals. The medical conditions that were significantly associated with the development of a pressure ulcer after adjustment were: Alzheimer's disease, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cerebral vascular accident, diabetes mellitus, deep venous thrombosis, hip fracture, hip surgery, limb paralysis, lower limb oedema, malignancy, malnutrition, osteoporosis, Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and urinary tract infections. Angina, hypertension, and pneumonia were inversely associated with the development of a pressure ulcer. it is important that physicians recognise that patients with many medical conditions may be at higher risk for pressure ulcers so that even in the ambulatory care environment appropriate prevention and detection strategies can be directed towards the patients who are most likely to benefit.

Are all pressure ulcers avoidable?

A quality of care debate centers on whether pressure ulcers result from factors largely dependent on caregivers, or whether pressure ulcers result from factors associated with patient morbidity. A reduction in incidence, defined as the development of a new pressure ulcer, is the focus of prevention strategies. Yet epidemiological data demonstrates a stability in the incidence of pressure ulcers despite drastic improvements in understanding of pressure ulcers, increased regulatory oversight, and improvements in technologies available for prevention of pressure ulcers. The explanation for this stable incidence of pressure ulcers includes a failure of known effective preventive treatment to be applied or the failure of prevention strategies to be effective in spite of being applied. No intervention strategy has been reported that consistently and reproducibly reduces the incidence of pressure ulcers to zero. The published data on prevention of pressure ulcers do not support an assumption that all pressure ulcers are preventable. An effective prevention strategy demonstrated to eliminate pressure ulcers across healthcare settings is lacking.

Are All Pressure Ulcers Avoidable?

•Recognize recent trends in the incidence of pressure ulcers and possible underlying explanations. •Identify important modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors for pressure ulcer and the efficacy of intervention strategies, emphasizing nutrition and pressure relief. •Address the question of what the current status of pressure ulcers and their management has to say about the nature of this condition and the quality of nursing home care.

Risk factors for pressure ulcers among elderly hip fracture patients.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers among elderly patients hospitalized for hip fracture surgery and to identify extrinsic factors that are associated with increased risk. We conducted a secondary analysis of data abstracted from medical records at 20 hospitals in Pennsylvania, Texas, New Jersey, and Virginia. Participants were patients aged 60 years and older admitted with hip fracture to the study hospitals between 1983 and 1993. The incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers was 8.8% (95% confidence interval 8.2%-9.4%). After adjusting for confounding variables, longer wait before surgery, intensive care unit stay, longer surgical procedure, and general anesthesia were significantly associated with higher pressure ulcer risk. Extrinsic factors may be important markers for high pressure ulcer risk in hospitalized hip fracture patients. Although it is not possible to eliminate factors such as requiring an intensive care unit stay or having a long surgical procedure, it may be possible to develop interventions that minimize pressure ulcer risk in patients who experience these factors.

Efecto del sellado con agua de la máscara facial para ventilación no invasiva en la aparición de úlceras faciales por presión

To demostrate that the use of water to seal facial mask for non invasive ventilation (NIV) reduces the incidence of facial pressure ulcers. prospective study including 47 pacients who (according to their responsable physician) needs NIV. Intersurgical facial mask and Puritann Bennet 7200 ventilator are used. Facial mask interface is randomly filled with water or air. Risk factors for pressure ulcers, lenght oftime of NIV (TNIV) and when the facial ulcer appears (TUA) are recorded. Student's T test is used to compare menas (except by TUA, analized with Mann-Whitney test). For qualitative variables X2 is eused. Data are presented as mean standard desviation (for TUA mean [range]). We studied 23 patients in the air group (AG) and 2 patients in the water group (WG), whose mean age was 73 years and APACHE II of 13. there where no differences studied in risk factors between groups (proteins 5.6 0.8 in AG vs 5.7 1.4 g/dl; PEEP 5 2 vs 6 1 cm of water; diabetes 11 vs 10; Nasogastric tube 7 vs 6; inotropics 9 vs 6 patients). TNIV was similar between groups (884 1,092 vs 875 1,107 minutes). 39% of patients in AG and 25% in WG developed facial ulcers (p = NS), with mean TUA of 847 minutes. The use of water to seal facial mask during invasive non ventilation dealays the appearance of facial ulcers. More studies are needed to demostrate significant reduction in the incidence of ulcers.

Pressure ulcers in intensive care patients: a review of risks and prevention.

Review of the literature concerning pressure ulcers in the intensive care setting. DATA SOURCE AND STUDY SELECTIONS: Computerized databases (Medline from 1980 until 1999 and CINAHL from 1982 until 1999). The indexing terms for article retrieval were: "pressure ulcers", "pressure sores", "decubitus", and "intensive care". Nineteen articles met the selection criteria, and seven more were found from the references of these articles. One thesis was also analyzed. Data on prevention, incidence, and costs of pressure ulcers in ICU patients are scarce. Overall there are no conclusive studies on the identification of pressure ulcer risk factors. None of the existing risk-assessment scales was developed especially for use in ICU patients. It is highly questionable to what extent these scales can be used in this setting as they are not even reliable in "standard care". The following risk factors might play a role in pressure ulcer development: duration of surgery and number of operations, fecal incontinence and/or diarrhea, low preoperative protein and albumin concentrations, disturbed sensory perception, moisture of the skin, impaired circulation, use of inotropic drugs, diabetes mellitus, too unstable to turn, decreased mobility, and high APACHE II score. The number of patients per study ranged from 5 from 638. The definition of "pressure ulcer" varied widely between authors or was not mentioned. Meaningful comparison cannot be made between the various studies because of the use of different grading systems for pressure ulcers, different methods of data collection, different (or lack of) population characteristics, unreported preventive measures, and the use of different inclusion and exclusion criteria. There is a need for well-conducted studies covering all these aspects.

Pressure ulcer prevalence in long-term nursing home residents since the implementation of OBRA '87. Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.

To evaluate change in pressure ulcer prevalence in long-term nursing home residents since the implementation of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA '87). Cross-sectional comparison of two time periods. Ninety-two nursing homes scheduled for a quality-of-care survey randomly selected from 22 representative states. Four thousand six hundred seventy-nine residents who had resided in the facility for at least 100 days were evaluated: 2,336 during 1992-1994 and 2,343 during 1997-1998. Trained registered nurses collected data on pressure ulcer prevalence, stage, and risk factors from medical record review during on-site evaluations. Risk-adjusted differences were estimated using logistic regression. Unadjusted prevalence rates for all stages of pressure ulcers (8.52% vs 8.54%, P =.983) and those rated stage 2 or greater (5.31% vs 5.63%, P =.624) did not differ between the two time periods. After adjustment for urinary incontinence, immobility, poor nutrition, and history of previous pressure ulcers, the relative odds of having a pressure ulcer in 1992/4 versus 1997/8 was 1.06 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.84-1.34) for all stages and 1.21 (95% CI = 0.92-1.60) for stages 2 and greater. No change in pressure ulcer prevalence was demonstrated since implementation of OBRA '87 in this nationally derived sample of long-term nursing home residents.